NYC Council Member Chi Osse Credit: Emil Cohen:NYC Council Media Unit
Emil Cohen:NYC Council Media Unit
Council Member Chi Ossé Holds Broker Fee Bill Rally
(BREAKING) DSA Shows Rare Split After Narrow Vote Against Endorsing Chi Ossé in Primary Bid vs. Hakeem Jeffries
The New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) has voted against endorsing Chi Ossé in the Democratic primary for New York’s 8th Congressional District, where Ossé is challenging incumbent Hakeem Jeffries, the House Minority Leader. The decision was shared with members in an internal email sent Saturday night.
According to the message, 52 percent of voting members opposed endorsing Ossé, while the remainder either supported an endorsement or abstained. The result reflects a narrow but decisive conclusion to a closely watched internal process.
Zohran Mamdani Urged Members to Withhold an Endorsement
The vote followed a statement from Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani, who sent a message to DSA members on Wednesday encouraging them not to endorse Ossé. Mamdani argued that the organization should refrain from entering the NY-08 race and instead concentrate on its priorities related to affordability, which was a central issue in his recent mayoral campaign.
Internal Debate Focused on Alignment and Member Concerns
DSA members had been actively discussing the primary on social media throughout the week. Several members criticized Jeffries, pointing to the millions of dollars he has received from AIPAC and noting that he did not endorse Mamdani until the night before early voting began during Mamdani’s mayoral run.
At the same time, some DSA members raised concerns about Ossé’s relationship with the organization. During internal discussions, members pointed out that Ossé became a dues-paying DSA member only this past summer, at the height of Mamdani’s mayoral campaign. For some, the timing raised questions about Ossé’s long-term alignment with the group’s goals.
What the Vote Means for the NY-08 Race
The close result leaves Ossé possibly moving forward in the primary without DSA’s endorsement, a notable factor given the organization’s influence in several recent New York elections. Jeffries maintains significant institutional advantages as an incumbent, while Ossé continues to position himself as an alternative within Brooklyn’s 8th Congressional District.
As of now, DSA has not issued a public statement beyond confirming the internal vote. Neither the Ossé campaign nor the Jeffries campaign has released new comments in response to DSA’s decision.
